I looked at a Cascade 29 via google search and it looked
like a decent enough boat. The large ports might be dangerous
however, you can't argue with the ventalation. I liked the
keel and rudder. It is a narrower boat and likely better upwind.

I think if you rigged storm boards for the ports lights you
could sail it south, particularly as you have the current with
you and an inland passage much of the way. You would
want to pick a good weather window.

The Catalina will be more comfortable and slower. They are
damn slow boats--you would have to motor it all the time
unless you had plenty of wind. They have good resale, but
I would not recommend it going south, although it could be
done.

I would opt for the diesel over the gas engine. Gas engines
are dangerous and unreliable. Diesels purr forever if you need
to use them, and you might. Parts of the inland passage have
very little wind, I've read, because of the high mountains. The
odd of catching some really bad conditions mean having a
diesel could be a life-saver.

You have some rough water up there. I would not consider
sailing either boat in the opposite direction (north) given the
scarcity of harbors and the slowness of boats in that size range.
You would surely be caught out and suffer for it.

Good luck.

"David" wrote
Hi all, I live up in Juneau Alaska... two boats I have been looking at
are a 29' Cascade with an 8' 3" beam, 22 hp Yanmar with 2500 hours on
it.... Good sails... The other is a 30' Catalina with a 10' 10"
beam.. Tall mast, good shape, needs some wood work and a new jib... has
an Atomic 4 cylinder... The Catalina is priced about 3k less than the
Cascade....

My question is... And I preface this by saying it would be a year or
two before I attempted this, but I would eventually like to sail from
Alaska down to Seattle and on down the pacific coast of the US towards
southern cali and maybe even central america... I'm guessing the
wider beam of the Catalina is going to make it the better choice for
such a trip... Are there any opions out there about this?

Muchas Gracious,
David